Expander for bicycle-handle-bar stems.



Patented Aug 22, I899.

No. samss.

' c. H. BURK.

EXPANDER FDR BICYCLE HANDLE BAR STEMS.

(Application filed Nov. 25, 1898.) I

(No Model.)

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CHARLES II. BURK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXPANDER FOR BlCYCLE-HANDLE BAR STEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,765, dated August 22, 1899. Application filed November 25, 1898. Serial No. 697,349. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. BURK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expanders for Bicycle-Handle-Bar Stems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a device to be used for expanding tubes, and it is more especially designed for and intended to be used in expanding the stems of bicycle handle-bars, so as to cause them to fit tightly within the neck of the front fork of the bicyales; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide an expander which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable, and eifectivein operation, and, second, such an expander which by reason of the peculiar construction and operation of its parts will expand the tube or stem to any desired extent, so as to cause it to fit tightly within the neck of the front fork or other tube and become rigid therewith, yet can be readily and quickly removed when desired.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a bicycle handle-bar, a part of the neck of the front fork of the bicycle, and the crown-head, with my expander in position. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of one of the cones used in the expander. Fig. 3 is asimilar View of a collar or cone detached. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of a screw-threaded cone, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the enveloping sleeve.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A represents the crown-head of a bicycle, which may be provided, as usual, with a cup to for the retention of a number of antifriction-balls a, on which rests the cone-nut b, which engages the screw-threads on the upper end of the neck or tube B on the front fork of the bicycle. The cone-nut b is secured in place by means of a locking-nut b, engaging the upper end of the fork tube or neck. Passing through the handle-bar C and into its stem (3 is a rod D, having on its upper end a rounded head 61 and on its lower portion screw-threads to engage the screwthreaded cone E, which is provided with a lug or projection e for the purpose presently to be explained. Some distance from its lower end the rod D is provided with an annular shoulder or flange 61, against which the flat portion of the cone E will rest, which cone is provided with a central opening, through which the rod D passes, and with an annular groove 6' for the reception of a pin or projection gon-the inner surface of the upper portion of the sleeve H,whichis formed with a vertical slot h, extending from end to end, thus making it a split sleeve. Located between the cones E and E and'on the rod D is a double cone or collar E and between it and the cones on each side thereof are a series of antifriction-balls G, which are held in position by means of the split sleeve H, which surrounds said balls and the cones, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When the sleeve is in position, the pin or projection g will engage the annular groove 6 of the cone E, and the projection e on the cone E will pass through the slot h of the sleeve H and into one of the slots 2' in the lower portion of the handle-bar stem, thus preventing the sleeve and cone E turning when the rod D is turned.

The operation of my expander is simple and as follows: The rod D is passed through a suitable opening in the handle-bar C and into the stem 0, when the cones, balls, and sleeve may be placed in position on its lower end in such a manner that the projection e on the cone E will extend through the slot h in the sleeve and into one of the slots 2' of the handle-bar stem, when by turning the rod D the screw-threaded cone E will be drawn upward by reason of its engagement with the screw-threads on the rod, thus pressing the balls outwardly, and thus expanding the sleeve H, as well as the lower portion of the handle-bar stem. To loosen and remove the stem, the reverse operation is employed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a handle-bar stern slotted in its lower portion, of a rod extending thereinto and having its lower. portion screw-threaded and near its lower end a shoulder or projection, a cone mounted on the rod near the shoulder thereof, a double cone mounted on the rod, a screw-threaded cone engaging the screw-threads of the rod,

antifriction-balls located between the cones, a sleeve having a longitudinal slot and surrounding the cones and'balls, and a projection secured to the screw-threaded cone and extending through the slot of the sleeve and into a slot in the handle-bar stem, substantially as described. I

- CHARLES H. BURK. Witnesses:

CHAs. C. TILLMAN$ E. A. DUGGAN. 

